[WoofDog123]

yes and no; argentina was never a threat anywhere but the falklands/south georgia etc., and never ever threatened asymetrical warfare, much less had a organized infrastructure producing just that in considerable quantity. Argentina was (and is) a conventional banana republic doing banana republic things which they already had some history of (they have fought with chile a couple of times over the most obscure things, including islands in tierra del fuego). Arg never ever had the ability to project any power of any kind against britain itself, nor did it claim to.

I think the major concerns of the west are economic WRT attacking Iran - no one wants 200$ oil (I know some freepers claim the straits of hormuz can never ever be closed by Iran, but clearly I am not so well informed) and absolutely no one wants the US or world economies to go into instant recession or depression. Added instability in Iraq, possible nukes already owned by Iran, and possible terrorist action by them within the borders of the west are added issues.

[justa-hairyape]

With regards to Argentina your points are correct but would just like to add that, Argentina did have a Exorcet equipped Cruiser (hull was a US ship from WWII) that was a threat to the only air projection of any kind available to the U.K. in the Falklands Theater. A U.K. Aircraft carrier. The U.K. force kept their Carrier on the far side of the Falklands. The land based Argentinian Air forces could not reach the carrier. A U.K. nuclear submarine however had to sink the Argentinian Exorcet equipped Cruiser before the retaking of the Islands began. Otherwise its missiles could have threatened the U.K. aircraft carrier. The carrier based planes eventually provided the only air support to retake the Falkland Islands. That sunken Cruiser was the pride of the Argentinian Navy. A navy that was sent back to port because it had no defense from the U.K. nuclear based submarines. That was the first ship ever sunk by the U.K. nuclear submarine crew and that crew got all kinds of grief from the British locals for doing just that do. In fact a British Politician even called them murderers. The sub was based in Scotland.

Concerning oil prices, if Iran wants war, Iran will get war. There is no way to prevent their actions concerning the straits. Oil will go up eventually whether we leave or whether we stay or whether we engage. Logistically Iran controls the Straits via land based missiles launched at oil tankers.